MANILA – A fire hit a slum area in Mandaluyong City Monday evening and burned an estimated 1,000 homes affecting about 5,000 families.

The Mandaluyong City Central Fire Station said many of the the houses at the Welfareville Compound in Barangay Addition Hills were razed.

The fire reportedly started about 7 p.m.

The Bureau of Fire Protection raised the fire alarm to Task Force India which meant that all firefighters and volunteers in the National Capital Region were asked to respond.

Fire investigators have yet to say the cause of the blaze which late evening was declared already under control.

Investigators said that the fire quickly spread since most of the houses were made of light materials.

An estimated 5,000 families were left homeless.

City officials arrived and announced to affected residents that they will be temporarily relocated to a nearby school. The school will reportedly have to suspend classes Tuesday since the affected residents were expected to still use its facilities.